234 



THE HARMONIES OF NATURE. 



constructions. The subterranean passages which lead from the 

 mound are hardly less remarkable than the building itself. 

 Perfectly cylindrical, and lined with a cement of clay similar to 

 that of which the hill is formed, they sometimes measure a foot 

 in diameter. They run in a sloping direction under the bottom 

 of the hill, to a depth of three or four feet, and then ramifying 



Mounds of the Termites. 



horizontally into numerous branches, ultimately rise near to the 

 surface at a considerable distance. At their entrance into the 

 interior of the hill, they are connected with a great number of 

 smaller galleries, which ascend the inside of the outer shell in a 

 spiral manner, and winding round the whole building to the 

 top, intersect each other at different heights, opening either 

 immediately into the dome in various places, and into the 

 lower part of the building, or communicating with every part 

 of it by other smaller circular passages. 



If the colossal structures of the termites are worthy of our 

 highest admiration, our wonder increases when we consider that 

 all these labours are performed in total darkness, for the aston- 

 ishing little animals are constantly working underground. 



